Apparatus for assembling plugs and tubes



Jan. 15, 1963 K. wYso cKl 3,073,010

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PLUGS AND TUBES Filed July 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY @2011 l/WJ Jan. 15, 1963 K. WYSOCK! APPARATUS FORASSEMBLING PLUGSAND TUBES Filed July 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NN m QW INVENTOR 172110112 m BY A,

K. WYSOCKI 3,073,010

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PLUGS AND TUBES Filed July 23, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 15, 1963 INVENTOR 152201751 Vcsaan BY fizzy a /7./770/ 7 k $5 Q$ A m h Q A A MK 5%? E ww Q Q WMMW M &

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APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PLUGS AND TUBES Filed July 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Illllllll ll 1 MW/ 4 INVENTOR 159m? way BY gm 74% l' /75-A r United States Patent G 3,073,010 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PLUGS AND TUBES Kazmier Wysocki, Hackensack, NJ assignor to Progressive Machine Company, Hackeusack, N.J., a partner- Filed July 23, 1959, Ser. No. 828,979 15 Claims. (CI. 29-33) This invention relates generally to spray nozzle assembly apparatus and more particularly to an improved apparatus for automatically attaching tubes to plugs or other closures such as caps, aerosol valves, etc. to form spray nozzle assemblies such as are used in plastic squeeze bottles for underarm deodorants, nasal sprays, aerosol containers, etc.

Apparatus of this general type is known in the art but, as a whole, it is characterized by certain inherent disadvantages. Among these are an unnecessarily complicated structure involved in attempting to correct the normally low output of apparatus of this type; a cart-behind-thehorse approach to the assembly step in that the plug or other closure is attached to the tube rather than vice-versa, resulting in an often inadequate seating attachment of the tube to the cap or closure for proper subsequent functioning of the assembly; a friction feed of the tubing and inadequate control thereover resulting in distortion of the tubing and an inaccurate cutting off thereof although a good, clean cut is vital; a further distortion of the tubing through improper support thereof during assembly also resulting in a poorly seated tube length; and a poor engineering of the apparatus resulting in an inadequate and uneconomic output of spray nozzle assemblies.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an automatic apparatus for assembling the tubes and plugs or other closures of spray nozzles which will obviate the above and other disadvantages charac terizing known apparatus.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved high output apparatus for automatically assembling spray nozzles at a relatively low speed to ensure proper feeding and supporting, and to effect a sharp cut-off of the tubing and its proper seating attachment to the plug or cap or other closure.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a compact and reliable spray nozzle assembly apparatus with a unique arrangement and automatic cycle of operations which enables a smooth, shock-free assembly action with an unusually high output and which is simple to adjust and maintain.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of the apparatus comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view to an enlarged scale of the reciprocatory mechanism for feeding the tubing to the cap or plug-holding indexing disc, the tubing feed and pressure wheels and dust cover being omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view thereof, parts being shown in elevation;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view looking on the line -6--6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a similar view looking on the line' 77 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view looking on the line over a plug nipple rather than in it.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed, apparatus is provided for feeding properly oriented spray nozzle plugs, caps, or other closures to a holding and carrying disc which is cyclically indexed to discharge a plurality of completed assemblies to a gravity chute D and simultaneously position a plurality of plugs in proper alignment for the simultaneous attachment thereto of a like number of tubing lengths by cooperating and properly synchronized apparatus. Thelatter apparatus includes various means for the positive and measured feeding, supporting and guiding, attaching to the plug or cap and cutting off of the tubing without its distortion, as is permitted by a relatively slow speed of the mechanisms comprising the apparatus. These are compactly arranged but permit the use of adequate tubing supply reels requiring a minimum of reloading and the said arrangement is such as to enable the ready adjustment of the cut tube lengths.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the major part of the apparatus comprising the present invention is mounted on the top 18 of an enclosed supporting frame or cabinet 19 Within which a plurality of tubing reels 20 are rotatab'ly mounted and from each of which the tubing T is simultaneously unreeled upwardly over an idler roll 21 during operation of the apparatus as will appear. The reels are of a convenient size so as to avoid frequent reloading of the apparatus and by Way of illustration, a group of 2000 foot reels of tubing will permit approximately four hours operation without reloading at an assembly rate of approximately 150 spray nozzles, assemblies, etc., per minute.

As seen in FIGURES 1-3 inclusive, one form of a standard vibrating hopper 23 is mounted on the near side of the cabinet top 18 to receive bulk supplies of spraying nozzle plugs P which it orients and feeds by a gravity chute 24 to the plug-holding disc to be described, and it will be understood that other types of standard hoppers may be used.

As seen in detail in FIGURES 4-10 inclusive, a rectangular bed plate 25 is mounted on the top 18 beside the hopper 23 and has fixed thereto at its opposite ends a housing 26 and an upstanding bracket 27 in each of which a drive shaft 28 is suitably journalled. The drive shaft is drivably connected by a sprocket 29' and a chain 31 passing through slots in the bed plate 25 with suitable power means (not shown) mounted within the cabinet 19. The holding disc into the conforming pockets 33 of which the plugs or caps P successively drop from the chute 24 by gravity (FIGURE 6) is mounted on a stub shaft 34 suitably journalled in the housing 26 within which a ratchet disc 35 is also keyed to the shaft 34.

As best shown in FIGURE 8, the periphery of the ratchet disc 35 is provided with equally spaced, locking notches 36 adapted to be engaged in turn by a locking detent 37 formed on the upper end of an L-shaped lever 33 pivoted to the housing 26 by the stud 39 upon which the lever 40 is also pivotally mounted. A lever 43 is pivoted on the shaft 34 and its outer end is pivotally connected with the outer end of the lever 40 by a bar 44 to the upper end of which an indexing dog 45 is pivoted and biased into position within one of the index notches 36 by a spring 46 connected to the lever 43. An elongated cam 47 is keyed to the drive shaft 28 and its peripheral surface is adapted to engage a roller 48 on the lever arm 38 which is connected by the spring 49 to housing. 26. The lever arm 40 is resiliently biased in the locked position shown of the'ratchet disc 35, by the spring 50 which is fixed to the housing 26.

It will be readily apparent that indexing of the ratchet disc will be elfected once every revolution of the drive shaft 28. As it rotates in a counter-clockwise direction the lobe of the cam 47A will engage the roller 48 of the lever. 38 which pivots about the stud 39 to withdraw the locking detent 37 from a notch 36. Simultaneously, the cam 47 engages a roller 48A on lever 40 and causes the upward movement of the right hand end (FIGURE 8) of the lever 40 which will lift the bar 44 moving the indexing dog 45 upwardly one notch. At this point, the cams 47 and 47A clear the rollers 48 and 48A to permit the springs 50 and 49, to move the locking detent 37 back into locking engagement with the notch now adjacent thereto, and to retract the dog 45 downwardly to engage the next notch Each indexing will cause the holding disc to pick up six plugs from the chute 24 and to discharge 6 assembled spray nozzles as will appear.

The plug-holding pockets 33 formed in the periphery of the plug-holding disc 30 areopen arcuate recesses conforming to the outer periphery of the portion of the plug ported against dislodgement during the joining of the tubes-T thereto by an arcuate backing plate 53 (FIGURES 4 and 5) mounted on the exterior of the housing 26 just behind the upper periphery of the holding disc 30 by a pair: of studs 54. A stop plate 55 for a slide carriage 98 to be described, is mounted just above the backing plate 53 by studs 56.

The tubing feeding and cut-off devices are mounted on a slidable frame which includes end plates 57 and 58 and side plates 59, the frame as a whole being mounted for sliding movement along the driving shaft 28 and on the bed plate 25 upon which it is confined and guided by edge guide strips 60 (FIGURE 7). The longitudinal position of the frame may be adjusted to vary the length of the tubing Tby means of the screw 63 having threaded engagement with the housing boss 64 and being rotatably mounted in thebracket 27 and operated by the knob 65. A pair of spaced shafts 66 (FIGURE 4) are fixed to the upper side edges of the frame plate 58 and extend toward the indexing mechanism housing 26 Where their ends are supported and slidably received in the clamp blocks 67 which are loosened when the longitudinal position of the frame is adjusted.

The mechanisms for simultaneously advancing a plurality of linesof tubing in arcuately arranged, side-by-side relationship into seating position on the plurality of plugs which have been indexed to the top of the holding disc 30 include (FIGURE 5) a slide carriage assembly 68 which supports a sleeve carrier assembly 69, a positive tubing feed wheel assembly 70, a crank assembly 73, and a cut-off knife assembly 74.

The crank assembly 73 effects longitudinal reciprocation of the slide carriage assembly 68 on the rods 66 and includes a vertically disposed crankshaft 75 mounted on the side frame members 59, a crank arm 76 having an adjusting slot 77 for a crank pin 78 which is connected to the slide carriage 98 by-an adjustable-length connecting rod 79. Rotation of the crank shaft 75 is effected from the ,drive shaft 28 by means of meshing bevel gearing 80, 83, the latter being connected to a large gear 84, and both being slidably keyed to the drive shaft.

The cut-off knife assembly 74 comprises a knife in the form of a sharpened beveled disc fixed to a gear 86 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the outer end of an arm' 87 whose inner end is keyed to the outer end of a stub shaft 88 rotatably mounted in suitable engaged, Each group of. indexed plugs or caps P is suphearings in a housing 89 inthe frame end 57 above the drive shaft. A large gear 96 is mounted on the housing 89 and fixed against rotation with respect thereto and to frame end 57 by bolts 93. The inner end of the stub shaft 88has a large gear 94 keyed thereon which meshes with the large gear '84 on the drive shaft 28.

It is therefore apparent that rotation of the drive shaft 28 eifects a reciprocation of the carriage 68 which is coordinated with the action of the rotary disc knife 85 which arrives at the cut-off position as the carriage reaches and dwells at the retracted position (FIGURES S and 14). It is to be noted that the meshing of the knife gear 56 with the stationary gear effects rotation of the former and of the disc knife 85 as the arm 87 rotates with the stub shaft 88 so that the cutting of the tubing is effected with different peripheral portions of the blade to thus prolong its sharpness and assure a cleaner cut.

The sleeve carrier assembly 69 (FIGURES 4, 5, 7 and 9) includes a plurality of parallel tubing supporting and guiding sleeves 95 which are arcuately spaced so as to be in axial alignment with the slugs in the top of the holding wheel 30. The sleeves are slidably mounted in a pair of spaced cross heads 96, 97 which depend from the slide carriage 98 and a pair of stop collars 99, 100 are fixed to each of the sleeves at points intermediate the cross heads. A pair of collars ,103, 104 are slidably mounted on a spaced pair of the sleeves 95 and are respectively urged against the cross heads 96, 97 by compression springs 105, 106 to permit relative motion between the carriage 98 and the sleeves as will be described.

The sleeve carrier assembly 69 includes a U-shaped cross head 107 through which the sleeves 95 project and to each of which it is fixed by means of split locking rings. Chucks 108 are slidably mounted on the forward ends of the sleeves and include a socket portion 109 conforming to the tapered sleeve ends, and a reduced nose portion 110 having a tapered end adapted to be received within the open end of a plug to guide the tubing therewith. The chucks 108 are connected to the sleeves by compression springs 113 which act to cushion the movement of the sleeve ends into their sockets 109.

The upper peripheries of the sleeves 95 are each slotted vadjacent their ends to receive a clamp 114 whose lower serrated face firmly engages the tubing T within the sleeve under the action of a spring 115 acting against a shoulder 116 of a guide tube 117 which slidably receives the reduced upper end of the clamp 114. The guide tubes are mounted in a bar spanning the upper end of the cross head 107. The sides of the clamps are provided with rollers 118 which, in clamping position rest on the upper surface 119 of the web of the cross head 107 (FIGURES 5 and 7).

The clamps 114 are simultaneously lifted from the six lines of tubing T in the sleeves 95 by means of a cam plate 120 fixed to the ends of a pair of rods 123 which are slidably mounted in the cross heads 96 and 97 in which movement of the rods is limited by a pair of stops 124, 125, fixed thereto. The cam plate is thus slidably movable over the surface 119 toward and away from the rollers 118 and includes an upwardly inclined cam portion terminating in a roller receiving recess 126. A, pair of rods 127 are fixed to the crosshead 107 for reciprocation therewith and extend through the wall 58. Stops 127-A are attached to the rods 127 and stop against wall 58 on the return stroke and permit the cross head 69 to dwell in fixed position (cut-01f of tubing) during the return stroke of the crank 73. A rack 128 isfixed to the end of one of the rods .to positively operate the tubing feed wheel assembly 70.

As seen in FIGURES l, 5 and 10, the tubing T is fed from a plurality (six) of separate reels 20 upwardly over the roller 21 through suitable guide means 129 and through the wall 58 into the sleeves 95 by a plurality of transversely spaced feed and pressure wheels 130, 133 as actuated by the rack 128 which meshes with a gear 134 which rotatesthe shaft 135 in a tubing feeding direction return movement of the rack, the shaft 135 and feed wheels 130 will be held in fixedposition by the clutches The pressure wheels 1313 are mounted adjacent and above each of the feed wheels on a shaft 138 in a frame '139 which is pivoted to a bracket 140 and between the latter two, compression springs143 are mounted so that downward pressure is exerted by each of the wheel-s 133 to push the tubing T against the concave and serrated peripheral surfaces of the'feed wheels 130 and thus ensure a positive feed of the tubing.

It is tobe noted that the tubing T isthus positively gripped for simultaneous feeding movement at two spaced points and thatthe rate of feed by the wheels 130 is the same as the feed by the clamps 114 on the reciprocating crosshead107.

The cyclicmovements of the tubing feeding and cutofi assemblies are schematically shown in FIGURES 11 to 14 inclusive'arid it will be noted in FIGURE 11 that a plug hasv beenindexed'into aligned position with a tub- .iugsleeve at the beginning of the advance stroke. The

tubing is 'firmly held by the clamps 114 and the feed and pressure wheels and supported therebetweeu by the tubing sleeves 95. As the crank assembly starts the advance stroke of the sliding carriage toward the plug holding wheel 30, the carriage crosshead 97 acts against the collars 194 so that all of the sleeves 95 advance.

As seen in FIGURE 12, the chucks 108 enter the six aligned plugs and, due to the lost motion connection of the springs 113, the sleeves 95 and tubing advance until the latter is firmly seated in the plugs. As the crank is completing its advance stroke, there is relative movement between the carriage crosshead 96 and the sleeve carrier assembly 69 (FIGURES 5 and 9) so that the cam plate 129 is moved by the crosshead 97 acting on the collar 125 under the rollers 118 to raise the clamps 114 to release the six lines of tubing T.

As seen in FIGURE 13, the return stroke of the crank effects a return of the carriage 98 to the position of FIG- URE 5 by the crosshead 96 acting against the collar 103, the clamps remaining raised by the cam plate 120 until the cros-shead 96 engages the collars 124 of rods 123 to withdraw the cam plate whereupon the clamps 1114 again firmly engage the six lines of tubing T. The movement of the carriage 98 on the return stroke is governed by the position of crank pin 78 and the length of the connecting link 79, and the tubing feed wheels 130 are held motionless by the one-way clutches 136, 137. When resetting the apparatus for different length of tubing, the adjustment of the crank pin 78 and connecting link 79 are interrelated, and must be adjusted to obtain adequate dwell time for the sleeve carrier assembly 69 to permit the knife to cut through all six tubes. Screw 63 must also be adjusted for different tube lengths.

Upon the completion of the return stroke, the sleeve carriage dwells during which the planetating rotary knife 85 (FIGURE 14) cuts off the six lines of tubing T. It will be noted that the tubes are supported within & of an inch of the cut thus effecting a very square and sharp out which is essential for proper seating of the tubes T in the plugs P and for good spray action.

While the tubing T is seated within the nipple or tube section 150 of a plug as shown in FIGURES 11 to 14 inclusive of the drawings, it is desirable when the plug or cap is an aerosol valve assembly, to use larger tubing T (FIGURE 15) and attach it over the nipple 151, the necessary size adaptations being made to the involved elements of the sleeve carrier assembly 69 such as the sleeves 95,.chucks '108,'etc. It" is to be understood that the. expression seated position within the plugs etc. where used in'the claims is intended to cover the relationshipwhe'ther a cap or plug is used and whether the tubing is attached to'the interior of the nipple or to the exterior as disclosed in FIGUREIS.

Theiteedzwheel assembly70 may be provided with a guard 147 and the cutting knife is provided with a .guard housing 148.

It will now be readily apparent that the described structure eliminates'tubing' distortion and its adverse rev.sults completely and enables a measured feed action .through'the one-wayclutches and positivegripping feed wheels. Theflengths of the tubing are readily changed by adjusting the stroke of the crank. Furthermore, the

.use of plural lines of tubing makes possible the use of'a high output .but slow acting mechanism which enables simplified indexing and the use of the plug-holding wheel 38 as a star pick-up 'wheel. Thus, the apparatuscomprising the present invention afiords a reliable assembly action, is simple-to adjust ands etup-for operation and to maintain, and-in operating slowly, ensures a smooth, ac-

curate, shock -free action.

It is to' be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape,'size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparture tro-m' the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for assembling plugs and tubes as spray nozzles for bottles, etc. comprising means including a plug holding disc for successively indexing plugs to a tube receiving position, chutes operatively arranged with respect to said disc to feed plugs thereto and to receive assembled plugs and tubes therefrom upon indexing thereof, reciprocable means operating in timed relationship with said indexing means for positively gripping, guiding and feeding a line of tubing to a seated position in a positioned plug, and means for thereafter severing said line of tubing at a predetermined distance from said plug.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the position of said gripping, guiding and feeding means is relatively adjust-able with respect to said disc to vary the severed lengths of the tube seated in said plug.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said gripping means engages said line of tubing closely adja cent the point of severance to avoid distortion of said tubing during severance.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said gripping and feeding means comprises a clamp and a teedwheel respectively movable and rotatable at identical linear speed to grip said line of tubing at spaced points and feed it to said positioned plug.

5. An apparatus for assembling plugs and tubes as spray nozzles for bottles, etc. comprising means including a plug holding disc for successively indexing plugs to a tube receiving position, means for feeding plugs to and receiving assembled plugs and tubes from said disc upon indexing thereof, means including a carriage reciprocable toward and away from said disc in timed relation with said indexing means for feeding a line of tubing to a seated position within a positioned plug, and means for thereafiter severing said seated tubing into a predetermined length, said carriage having a clamp mounted thereon for gripping said tubing closely adjacent its point of severance to eliminate distortion of the tubing and enable a square cut during severance.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein acam is mounted on said carriage adjacent said clamp and operably engages said clamp to efiect release of said line of tubing as said carriage completes its movement toward and moves away from said disc.

7. An apparatus tor assembling plugs and tubes as spray nozzles for bottles,;etc. comprising means for successive-ly' positioning plugs in a tube receiving position,

.rneans for supporting a tube in axial alignment with a said gripping means comprises a clamp connected with said supporting means.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein one of said gripping means comprises a feedwheel engaging said tube and a pressurewheel pressing said tube into engagement with said feedwheel.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said supporting, gripping, advancing and severing means are adjustable with respect to said positioning means to vary the severed length with respect to said tube.

11. An apparatus for assembling plugs and tubes as spray nozzles for bottles, etc. comprising means including a plug holding disc for successively indexing plugs to a tube receiving position, a sleeve for supporting a tube in axial alignment-with a positioned plug, a carriage supporting said sleeve for movement toward and away from said disc, a clamp mounted on said carriage and adapted to clamp the tubeagainst said sleeve, means for moving said carriage toward said disc in timed relationship with said indexing means to seat said tube in said positioned plug, and means for thereafter severing said seated tube closely adjacent said clamp.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein chutes are operatively arranged with respect to said disc to feed plugs thereto and to receive assembled plugs and tubes therefrom upon indexing thereof.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein a cam is mounted on said carriage adjacent said clamp and is operable during the end of movement of said carriage toward said disc to raise said clamp from clamping engagement with said tube against said sleeve.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein means are provided to hold the remainder of said severed tube stationary while said carriage supported sleeve moves away from said disc.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said holding means comprises a positive tube-gripping feedwheel assembly including one-way clutches connecting it with said carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PLUGS AND TUBES AS SPRAY NOZZLES FOR BOTTLES, ETC. COMPRISING MEANS INCLUDING A PLUG HOLDING DISC FOR SUCCESSIVELY INDEXING PLUGS TO A TUBE RECEIVING POSITION, CHUTES OPERATIVELY ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO SAID DISC TO FEED PLUGS THERETO AND TO RECEIVE ASSEMBLED PLUGS AND TUBES THEREFROM UPON INDEXING THEREOF, RECIPROCABLE MEANS OPERATING IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID INDEXING MEANS FOR POSITIVELY GRIPPING, GUIDING AND FEEDING A LINE OF TUBING TO A SEATED POSITION IN A POSITIONED PLUG, AND MEANS FOR THEREAFTER SEVERING SAID LINE OF TUBING AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID PLUG. 